The Moscow City Court will review on October 22 Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov’s appeal of Moscow’s Tverskoy District Court’s dismissal of his $16,140 claim against the Memorial Human Rights Organization, his lawyer Andrei Krasnenkov told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) Monday.
“Proceeding from law and justice, I hope that the court’s decision will be reversed,” the lawyer said. “Moreover, a case should be opened against the judge and the defendants on charges of forgery and falsification. Otherwise, I will go to the Investigative Committee.”
He added that five statements in one of the organization’s articles defame Kadyrov. Krasnenkov sought their refutation and the payment of 500,000 rubles ($15,500) in moral damages.
Meanwhile, Memorial head Oleg Orlov said the court’s decision was lawful, adding that he had no doubt about the ruling.
According to Krasnenkov, the Moscow Ostankinsky Court previously dismissed a similar lawsuit filed by Memorial against the president.
Krasnenkov said Kadyrov filed the lawsuit against Memorial in 2010, but later requested its suspension until the hearing of the case against Orlov had concluded.
Investigators accused Orlov of defaming Kadyrov after the murder of human rights activist Natalya Estemirova. Memorial employee and award-winning international human rights activist Estemirova was kidnapped in Grozny on July 15, 2009. Her body was later found in Ingushetia.
Her murder incited a major public uproar. Orlov spoke publicly of Kadyrov’s alleged involvement in her death, after which the court hearings commenced. In January 2012, the Moscow Khamovnichesky District Court closed the case due to the decriminalization of the relevant Criminal Code article.
The Moscow Tverskoy District earlier found that Orlov’s statements defamed the honor, dignity and business reputation of Kadyrov. He was fined 20,000 rubles ($620). Memorial was fined 50,000 rubles ($1,550).
Courtesy of: Russian Legal Information Agency
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